a department of France, so called from its being the most northerly in the country, lies between N. Lat. 49.58 and 51.5°, E. Long. 2.7° and 4.23°; and is bounded on the N. by the German Ocean, N.E. and E. by Belgium, S. by Aisne and Somme, and S.W. by Pas de Calais. Its length from N.W. to S.E. is about 124 miles; the breadth varies from 23 to 39 miles; area, 2192 square miles. The whole surface consists of a flat and monotonous plain, slightly sloping towards the N.E., and diversified with a few hills, which do not exceed 400 feet in height. The southeastern part of the department is occupied by the northern slopes of the mountains and the forests of Ardennes; and throughout the whole extent of the country cultivation is carried to the top of the highest elevations. The coast of the German Ocean is formed by a range of sand-hills, called dunes or downs, and the land beyond is little, if at all, above the level of the sea. The principal rivers flow N.E. towards the German Ocean, and owing to the flatness of the country are of a very sluggish nature. The principal of these are,—Yser, Lys, Scarpe, Scheldt, and Sambre. The Aa, which has a N.W. direction, separates the departments of Nord and Pas de Calais. The soil is generally very good; and near the coast, where the low land is of a marshy nature, a skilful system of drainage has rendered that not only fit for cultivation, but has reclaimed from the water a tract of great fertility. Part of this district, called the Watteringhes, has been drained from a very early period by canals of various sizes,—some natural and some artificial,—which convey the water of the marshes into the sea at low-water. This district comprises an area of 195,321 acres, and is divided into four sections, each under the superintendence of special commissioners to see that the works are kept in repair. The other portion of the marshy ground lies partly in France and partly in Belgium, and is known by the name of Moeres. It consists of a larger and a smaller Moere—the former having an area of 7664 acres, of which 2944 are in France; while the latter extends only to 433 acres. This ground has on several occasions been drained, and again laid under water for the protection of the frontier, but was finally recovered from the sea in 1826. The soil of Nord consists of rich alluvial earth in the northern part, and towards the south is of a calcareous and clayey nature. The principal minerals are iron, coal, marble, paving-stones, potters' clay, &c. Cultivation is more largely and better carried on here than in most other parts of France; about 890,000 acres are occupied by arable land, 235,000 by meadows, 86,500 by wood, &c. The crops principally raised consist of wheat, rye, barley, oats, pulse, hemp, flax, tobacco, hops, &c. Pastoral occupations are also largely pursued. The horses, estimated at 80,000, are strong and fit for farm labour; the horned cattle, of which there are 230,000 head, are of one of the best breeds in France; and the 240,000 sheep of the department produce excellent wool. There are also 75,000 pigs and 7000 goats. The mineral operations carried on in this department are probably the most extensive in France, consisting principally in the working of coal and iron mines. The manufactures are many and varied; linen, cotton, and woollen stuffs of all kinds; lace, tulle, cambric, and lawn; sugar, starch, soap, oil, glass, paper, earthenware, ropes, leather, cannon, &c. The commerce of the department is also very great, consisting of the exportation of the produce of the soil and of the manufactures, and in the importation of cotton, wool, flax, tobacco, wine, brandy, timber, &c., which are received from foreign countries and from the French colonies. There are two seaports on the German Ocean, Dunkirk and Gravelines,—at the former of which the maritime trade is chiefly carried on. The people near the coast are employed to a large extent in the herring fishery; and many vessels are sent out from Dunkirk and Gravelines to the whale and cod fisheries. In no part of France are the internal communications so much facilitated by roads and canals as in this department, where there are 15 imperial roads, extending over 360 miles; 17 departmental roads of 176 miles; besides 6 navigable rivers and 23 canals, with a total length of 350 miles. There are also 4 principal railways, extending over 143 miles. Nord forms the diocese of the Archbishop of Cambrai, and contains 5 Protestant places of worship and a Jewish synagogue. It has a court of appeal, 7 courts of primary jurisdiction, 4 tribunals of commerce, and 7 councils of prud'hommes.

The educational institutions are,—a primary normal school at Douai, 2 academies, 15 communal colleges, 934 public primary schools, &c. There are also 47 hospitals, 2 deaf-and-dumb institutions, 3 lunatic asylums and other charitable establishments, 9 prisons, and 13 fortified places. The capital is Lille; and the department is divided into 7 arrondissements as follows:

| Canton | Communes | Population, 1855 | |--------|----------|----------------| | Lille | 18 | 132 | | Douai | 6 | 66 | | Dunkirk | 7 | 59 | | Hazebrouck | 7 | 53 | | Avesnes | 10 | 163 | | Valenciennes | 7 | 81 | | Cambrai | 7 | 118 |

Total | 60 | 662 | 1,212,353

CÔTES DU. See CÔTES DU NORD.